Immigration-focused bills gain steam at Roundhouse

From KOB-TV.com - by Gadi Schwartz, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - The debate over illegal immigration is gathering momentum at the state capitol with lawmakers on both sides of the issue preparing bills. Governor Susana Martinez has vowed to try and stop undocumented immigrants from getting New Mexico drivers licenses during the current legislative session, which could set the tone for the debate over immigration. The first bills dealing with illegal immigration have been filed by Senate Democrats. One would prevent law enforcement officers from racial profiling people who look like they are immigrants to enforce federal immigration laws. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Richard Martinez (D-Espanola) says the purpose of the bill is to prevent officers from pulling people over and arresting "them based on their color." Another bill introduced by Senator Tim Keller (D-Albuquerque) basically offers sanctuary for immigrants in certain places where officers would not be allowed to ask about immigration status like churches, schools and hospitals. Keller's bill would also limit officers from inquiring about immigration status from witnesses of a crime scene to foster cooperation with a law enforcement investigation. Representative Andy Nunez (I-Hatch) also introduced a bill Thursday requiring a social security number to get a driver's license. Representative Bill Rehm, (R-Albuquerque) is also gearing up to introduce a bill that would require people without social security numbers to get temporary driver's permit, which could not be used to board a plane. Under that bill, licenses already issued to some 84,000 undocumented immigrants would be revoked in 2012. Read more

Immigration-focused bills gain steam at Roundhouse